ADVERTISEMENT: More and more international equestrian facilities are striving to secure future foals at an early stage of development, as was shown once again at the Flanders Embryo Auction in Oliva. On Saturday evening, November 7, 21 of the 26 embryos offered were sold. After their birth, all of them will have the opportunity to develop into successful sport horses. The average price was €15,174.
The auction in Spain was the ninth and final event in what has been the best auction year ever for Flanders Foal Auction. „We did indeed end the year with our lowest average price, but of course everyone was a little spoiled by the many high prices. More than €15,000 is still a very good price for an embryo. What pleases us especially is that these embryos are going into professional hands. We expect to hear much more about them once they start their careers in sport,“ say Luk Van Puymbroeck and Gerald Lenaerts.
Young horses that are already ready to start at the MET Oliva and that were previously sold as embryos or foals at the Flanders Foal Auction give great hope for the future. Buyers who had already purchased embryos in Oliva in February are enthusiastic about the foals that have now been born and returned to secure more embryos. An Irish show jumper even bought five.
Highest price for embryo from a 1.60 m GP mare
With €21,000, the Comme il Faut embryo from Chablis (Chambertin), a 1.60-metre Grand Prix mare, was the most expensive lot. He is also going to Ireland. Two embryos each fetched €20,000: the one from „Impress-K van Kattenheye“ x „Comme il Faut“, whose grand-dam is „Pretty Woman van ’t Paradijs“ (1.60 m Grand Prix with Willem Greve), and the one from „Picobello van ’t Roosakker“ from a half-sister of „Zarkava Hero Z“ (1.70 m Grand Prix).
Picobello won the World Cup qualification in Samorin before the auction, where a live stream was set up and online bids were possible. This led to three sales in Slovakia, including €18,000 for a diamond from the 1.45m mare Imogen de Regor (Darco), which has already produced a 1.60m and a 1.55m jumper.
Emirates in January
Although this was the last auction of the year, there is still a lively atmosphere behind the scenes. Foals are being weaned and handed over to their new owners, buyers and breeders are being contacted again, and the first embryos for 2027 have already been secured. In January, the team from Flanders Foal Auction will once again travel to the Emirates with a special selection of embryos.